Medici 2 STILLS & PROMOTIONAL PHOTOS

Beta Film Acquires New ‘Medici’ Season With Sean Bean, Daniel Sharman, Bradley James (EXCLUSIVE)

In the run-up to Mipcom,< i>Beta Film has acquired international sales rights to “Medici: Masters of Florence. The Magnificent,” a sequel to the hit Italian period drama (pictured) created by Frank Spotnitz.

The eight-hour series, which is currently being shot on historic locations in Tuscany and in studio in Rome, stars Daniel Sharman (“Teen Wolf”), Bradley James (“Homeland”) and Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones”). Rather than being billed as a second season of “Medici: Masters of Florence,” “The Magnificent” was conceived as a different show and will have a different look from the first series. Jon Cassar, the exec producer and director of “24: Legacy” and “24: Live Another Day,” has come on board to direct the new series.

“The Magnificent” begins in Florence in 1469, where an attempt on Piero de Medici’s life forces his son Lorenzo (Sharman) to assume leadership of the family-run bank. Once in power, young Lorenzo, nicknamed The Magnificent, resolves to do things differently, which swiftly brings him into conflict with the head of Florence’s other powerful banking family, Jacopo Pazzi (Bean).

“Lorenzo is a true Renaissance man and one of the greatest figures in history. When he takes leadership of the family, his idealism is put to the test, and culminates in the incredible but true story of the Pazzi conspiracy, a real-life thriller that’s still shocking centuries later,” said Spotnitz.

The cast of “The Magnificent” is completed by Sarah Parish (“Pillars of the Earth”), Alessandra Mastronardi (“Master of None”), Synnøve Karlsen (“Clique”), Raoul Bova (“The Tourist,” “Under the Tuscan Sun”) and Julian Sands (“Gotham”). Shooting is expected to wrap in December.

Budgeted at 24 million euros ($28 million), the series is being produced by Lux Vide in collaboration with Rai Fiction, Altice Group and Big Light Productions Ltd. Spotnitz is executive-producing with Luca Bernabei, Matilde Bernabei, Jon Cassar, Emily Feller, Daniele Passani and Nora Melhli.

The first images of the show will be presented at Mipcom with Sharman and Spotnitz attending, as well as Lux Vide’s Luca and Matilde Bernabei, Beta Film’s Jan Mojto and Rai Fiction director Eleonora Andreatta.

Andreatta at Rai said the broadcaster was “proud to share this great project that brings Italy to the world with companies that represent international excellence and have always been able to think big and innovate.” Mojto said the series addressed the universal theme of “young people with young ideas breaking up old structures.”

“The Magnificent” represents a significant investment from Altice Group. “Medici: Masters of Florence” marked Altice’s first premium drama acquisition. “The incredible adventure of one of the most famous families of their time completely fulfills our promise to our viewers: to bring them the best original shows and exclusive stories,” said Melhli at Altice Group.